Latest Ukraine-Russia war: Biden approves another US weapon to curb Russian army as Putin steps up nuclear threat

The British embassy in Kiev will remain open despite the US closing its own due to the possibility of a “significant air strike” from Russia.

The shutdown came after Ukraine’s first use of US-supplied missiles to hit targets deep inside Russia. The British government is considering its position on whether to allow Kiev to use British long-range Storm Shadow missiles in Russia.

On Wednesday morning, British Science Secretary Peter Kyle said Britain was monitoring the situation and “will do everything we can to keep British citizens safe”.

The Foreign Office said the British embassy was open but that the safety of staff and British nationals was of “overriding” importance. The embassy in Kiev has had a limited diplomatic function and does not provide personal consular assistance.

The Italian and Greek embassies said they have closed their doors following the US warning. The French embassy remains open but has urged caution from its citizens.

A few hours later, on the 1,000th. day of the invasion, Moscow claimed the first use of US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) ballistic missiles in the Bryansk region of Russia, about 80 miles from the border with Ukraine. The missiles have a full range of about 190 miles.

Downing Street has condemned Vladimir Putin’s decision to lower the threshold for nuclear weapons as the “latest example of irresponsibility” by the “corrupt Russian government”.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, which marked 1,000 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a No 10 spokesman said: “Our focus remains on supporting Ukraine … we are very clear that Vladimir Putin can end this war tomorrow .

“He could withdraw his troops, roll back his tanks and end the attack and unnecessary bloodshed in both Ukraine and Russia. It is entirely within his gift. We would encourage him to do so.”

Asked whether the Russian leader acted irresponsibly, the spokesman said: “It would be fair to say that this is the latest example of irresponsibility that we have seen from the corrupt Russian government.

“We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine and the defense of an illegal invasion and we have always said that the defense of Britain starts in Ukraine.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has criticized the US decision to allow long-range ATACMS missiles to be fired into Russian territory.

Russia and Ukraine should both be focused on peace and containment, Mr. Erdogan added, according to CNN Turk.

The US Embassy in Kiev has urged US citizens to keep water, food and medical reserves in case of a “possible temporary loss of electricity and water” caused by Russian strikes.

“Sustained Russian attacks targeting civilian infrastructure throughout Ukraine may result in power outages, loss of heat and disruption of municipal services,” the embassy said.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Security Council’s counter-disinformation center, said Russia is ready to carry out more airstrikes.

He said: “Let me remind you that the Russians have been stockpiling missiles for a series of attacks on Ukraine for several months. This includes Kh-101 missiles, which they continue to produce, as well as Kalibrs and ballistics.”

Russia has consistently warned the West that allowing Ukraine to launch US, British and French missiles deep into Russia would mean NATO members would be seen by Moscow as directly involved in the war.

This was reported by two US officials Washington Post that Kiev has committed to deploying explosive charges only on its own territory and not in areas populated by civilians

Ukraine hopes the development will enable it to slow the advance of Russian ground troops in the east, especially when used in conjunction with other munitions gifted by its Western allies, an official said. Reuters.

British soldiers have fired a new artillery gun for the first time in a tactical exercise close to Russia’s border in Finland.

It comes as Russia reacts furiously to US President Joe Biden’s decision to authorize the use of US long-range ATACMS missiles on Russian territory for the first time.

The Swedish-made Archer 155mm self-propelled guns have been procured as a temporary replacement for the 32 AS90s that Britain has donated to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

Archer, which is designed and built by BAE Systems Bofors, has twice the maximum range of the AS90, greater operational mobility, greater availability and reduced time to action, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Vladimir Putin’s change in Russian nuclear doctrine is “the result of careful escalation management by both sides”, one analyst has suggested.

Professor Sam Greene, of the Center for European Policy Analysis, said on X: “Deep breaths, everyone. The fact that Russia published a revised nuclear doctrine on the same day that Ukraine first fired ATACMs across the border is the result of careful escalation management by both sides.

“We may eventually get to WWIII, but probably not tonight. None of this happened at a moment’s notice. Ukraine had been asking for permission for long-range strikes for ages. Biden made it clear it was only a matter of time .Putin will have decided that this – a relatively minor revision of a document – would be his answer.

“That said, the same factors that keep Nato and Russia from going to war with each other make it harder for Ukraine to win the war, to the continuing frustration of many in Ukraine and elsewhere. It’s a cycle that Biden – the administration was never able to square.

“The question now is, will Trump make it better?”

The British government is monitoring the security situation for British diplomats in Kiev “incredibly closely” after the US closed its embassy in the Ukrainian capital due to the threat of an airstrike.

Science Secretary Peter Kyle told Times Radio: “I am not going to share details at the moment about operational conditions that are on the ground in Kiev.

“(I) can reassure you that we are looking incredibly closely at the situation.

“We have very good relations with the government in Kiev and with the US. We will do everything we can to keep British citizens safe.

“But there has just been no doubt that this conflict has been going on for over 1,000 days now. It was caused by the illegal, unwarranted and unprovoked attack by Vladimir Putin.”